Projecting the Final 53

The Packers need to trim their roster to 53 men by 3 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, and although projections and predictions aren't really my thing, it seems like the bloggerly thing to do to make an attempt at predicting the Packers' roster for this year.

I don't claim to have any special insight and I'll admit that some of these are flat out guesses. But between guesses, gut feelings, and what I've seen on the field so far, here's my best shot at the 2013 Green Bay Packers.

Analysis:DuJuan Harris hurting his knee made this much easier. His injury gives the Packers good reason to keep both Green and Starks around to serve as second options behind Lacy while Franklin figures the NFL game out.

Analysis: Beyond Finley and possibly Mulligan, this is a crap shoot. Taylor contributes on special teams and Bostick has great potential, but Quarless is seasoned and a ferocious blocker and Williams is a good receiver. Any of those four might be interchangeable. Stoneburner may be a possible candidate for the practice squad.

Analysis: Ross won himself a job Thursday night, and provided he doesn't have any more fumble adventures, he should supplant Cobb on punt and kick returns. Some combination of the three cuts may return to Green Bay on the practice squad.

Analysis: Beyond the five starters and possibly Newhouse, this is a hard call again. Van Roten can play multiple positions, so he stays. Lane Taylor just had a kid, so he stays. The others may again be interchangeable.

Analysis: Strangely, this turned into a position of considerable depth for the Packers. Boyd and MIller could both make a case to stay on the roster. Whoever gets cut could get a call back if they're not snapped up by another team.

Analysis: Linebacker made be the hardest position group to predict. Inside linebacker could go anywhere beyond Hawk, Jones, and Francois. On the outside, it's all about who has the most potential and who can produce the most consistently. Mulumba and Palmer have both had their flashes, and Moses was last year's undrafted hero. Of the three, Mulumba might have the biggest upside, but he's extremely raw.

Analysis: Special teams wunderkind Bush survives. House gets by on potential for one more year. On the other side of the fence, Means got burned too often, Nixon is fast, but inexperienced, and Smith is a year away from being NFL ready, although he has extreme physical gifts.